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→Going outside one's diocese
Anyway, I'm open to correction by those more learned than I. —[[User:ASDamick|<font size="3.5" color="green" face="Adobe Garamond Pro, Garamond, Georgia, Times New Roman">Fr. Andrew</font>]] <sup>[[User_talk:ASDamick|<font color="red">talk</font>]]</sup> <small>[[Special:Contributions/ASDamick|<font color="black">contribs</font>]] <font face="Adobe Garamond Pro, Garamond, Georgia, Times New Roman">('''[[User:ASDamick/Wiki-philosophy|THINK!]]''')</font></small> 16:42, August 10, 2008 (UTC)
:A closer reading combined with the interpretion given by the Church makes it clear that these canons do not apply to "Barbarian lands" the prohibition about a bishop not going outside his own diocese. The language always speaks of causing disorder in another Church... something that would not apply to a place without one. And more importantly, here's what St. Nicodemos says about the last part of Canon 2 of the 2nd Ecumenical Council (1st Constantinople):
::"As for the churches of God that are situated in the midst of barbarian nations, where there either were not enough bishops to make up a synod, or it was necessary for some scholarly bishop to go there in order to bolster up the Christians in their faith.These churches, I say, ought to be managed in accordance with the prevailing custom of the Fathers. To be more explicit, neighboring and abler bishops ought to go to them, in order to supply what is missing for a local synod. Which, though contrary to Canons, yet as a matter of necessity was allowed by the Council." The Rudder, P. 210.
And so, for example, it was obviously up to the Russian Church to establish dioceses in China, Japan, and Alaska, because they were the Church nearest, and had the inclination and ability to do it. Constantinople has generally not been in a position to do real missionary work since the fall of Constantinople. [[User:Frjohnwhiteford|Frjohnwhiteford]] 00:38, August 11, 2008 (UTC)
